Chapter 5
Blake staggered, nearly losing his footing.
When he looked up again, his eyes were bloodshot.[]
After a long silence, he struggled to speak.[]
“What do you mean, disappeared?“]
“Where could Riley possibly go?“]
“And now could Mrs. James be dead?!“]
His assistant looked ready to break down but forced himself to continue:[]
“Mrs. James passed away right after you left with Miss. Carter that day.“[]
“I checked the security footage. She cried for hours before leaving the hospital room. After the funeral, she went to the rooftop.“]
“All the doctors who saw her said she seemed to have lost her will to live–like a walking corpse.“[]
Blake stood frozen in place.
He knew that after her mother became comatose, Riley had developed severe depression. At its worst, she had attempted suicide several times.
Each time, he had desperately pulled her back, kneeling and begging her not to leave him.[]
He knew perfectly well that what kept her going was the hope of seeing her mother awake again. Yet he had extinguished her last flicker of hope.[]
The realization that he had personally removed her mother’s oxygen tube drained every drop of color from his face.
He trembled, unable to utter a single word.
“The doctors also mentioned that Riley had recently undergone an abortion procedure. Her body was extremely weak.“[]
The assistant’s words hit Blake like a sledgehammer to the chest.[]
He shook violently, nearly dropping the baby in his arms. The infant’s piercing cries rang out, but he barely registered the sound.[]
He only grabbed his assistant’s collar, his face contorted with fear.[]
“What did you say? Riley was… pregnant?“]
That’s impossible. Wasn’t her uterus damaged? She couldn’t get pregnant again!“]
The assistant’s face paled further, but he continued firmly:
“Mr. Remington, surely you knew how hard Riley tried to conceive?”
“She was terrified of needles, yet she secretly took countless injections behind your back.“[]
“Whenever you traveled for business, she asked me to accompany her to church where she would kneel step by step, praying just to conceive your child.”
A thunderous roaring filled Blake’s head
Riley had gone to such lengths to have his child.
But what had he done?
He had used every business trip as an opportunity to be with Mia
In three years, he had gotten Mia pregnant three times.
Chapter 5
Whenever guilt surfaced, he consoled himself: it was Riley’s fault for not being able to continue his bloodline. He just w…ted a child—was that such a terrible sin?
But until now did he knew the truth–Riley could conceive. Even the child in her womb had been killed by his own hands.[]
How could he have crashed his car into her? How could he have slapped her off that stretcher?]
In that moment, pain and regret completely consumed his heart.]
Blake collapsed to the floor, all vitality drained from his expression.[]
“I… I didn’t mean to. Why didn’t she tell me she was pregnant!“[]
“If I had known she was carrying our child, I would never have…“]
The image of Riley’s deathly pale face flashed before him.[]
His voice trailed off.]
He finally realized it wasn’t that she hadn’t wanted to tell him, but he never given her the chance.
During the civil unrest, his first thought had been Mia.[]
He risked being shot to find her. Yet he had forgotten that someone else would brave gunfire to find him.
That day, amidst flying bullets, Riley and he had locked eyes across the distance.
He had watched her expression change from joy to cold detachment.]
She had originally wanted to share the news of her pregnancy. Instead, she witnessed him sheltering another woman in his arms.]
Remembering her reddened eyes and wounded expression made him unable to sit still any longer.[]
Blake rose unsteadily, grabbing his assistant’s arm.[]
“I don’t care what methods you use. You must find Riley!“]
“She’s my wife–what right does she have to leave me?“]
Seeing his desperate state, his assistant couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.[]
“Mr. Remington, if I recall correctly, you signed divorce papers the day before the incident.”
“After hurting Riley so badly, perhaps letting her go is the kindest thing you can do.“]]
Blake looked up in disbelief. Tears he’d been holding back finally streamed down his face.]
“It wasn’t like that. I was just angry at the moment. How could I truly divorce her?“]
“Whatever happens, I must find her. She saved my life. I owe her everything. I’ll find a way to make amends!“]
He pushed past his assistant and stumbled toward the exit.]
Riley had always loved him dearly. He couldn’t believe she would be heartless enough to never see him again.[]
He was certain that if he could just find her, he’d find a way to win her back.]
It might take more time and effort, but this time, no matter the cost, he would never let her go again.
